Michigan State’s Jonathan Smith steps off flight ‘ready to go to work’

A little more than 24 hours after being named Michigan State’s new head coach , Jonathan Smith’s feet hit the ground in the 517 area code.

The former Oregon State coach arrived on a charter flight late Sunday afternoon at the Capital Region International Airport and was greeted by athletic director Alan Haller, cheerleaders and Sparty.

“I’m excited to be here,” Smith told WLNS shortly after landing. “We’re ready to go to work. This is a special place, I’m anxious to learn about it.”

Smith was a standout quarterback at Oregon State who spent the last six seasons coaching his alma mater. Last year he guided the Beavers to just the third 10-win season in program history and they were ranked No. 16 before Friday’s loss at No. 6 Oregon. Following the game, Smith told reporters no decisions had been made about his future but the announcement from the Spartans came the following day.

“I felt confident, to be honest with you, but I did want to sleep on it one more night I think,” Smith said of his mindset about the Michigan State opportunity heading into the rivalry game against the Ducks. “In my mind, it’s been a long time.”

Michigan State’s Board of Trustees still needs to formally approve the hire but Smith is scheduled to have an introductory press conference at noon on Tuesday at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. He arrives with plenty of work to do shortly after a team wrapped up a chaotic season.

Less than two years after signing a 10-year, $95 million contract extension, coach Mel Tucker was suspended and fired for cause in September amid allegations of sexual misconduct. Former Michigan State All-American defensive back and longtime secondary coach Harlon Barnett took over in an interim role and posted a 2-8 record as the Spartans lost 42-0 to Penn State on Friday night in Detroit. They finished 4-8 overall and 2-7 in the Big Ten to miss a bowl game for the second straight year.

“A new era, a new opportunity – not going to sugar coat, there’s some work to do,” Smith said in a video posted by the program on social media. “There is no doubt, we know that. We’re excited about diving into it, getting around these players currently and selling a vision of opportunity and competing for championships and doing it together.”

East Lansing, MI pic.twitter.com/obVPY5JkJF

— Michigan State Football November 26, 2023

Although Smith has never coached east of Montana, he isn’t a stranger to Spartan Stadium. His two-year run as Boise State’s quarterbacks coach included a 17-13 loss for the Broncos at Michigan State in the 2012 season opener.

“That crowd, that atmosphere, the passion around the fan base – I’m ready to be on the other sideline,” he told WLNS on Sunday.

Contract terms haven’t been released yet for Smith, who signed a new six-year, $30.6 million deal with Oregon State less than a year ago and made $4.85 million last year. The buyout was $3 million for the 2022 Pac-12 Coach of the Year.

Smith, 44, and his wife, Candice, have three children and he said their ages factored into a move to the Midwest. There was also a chance to run a Big Ten program in need of a rebuild and he left a crumbling Pac-12. Smith is bringing 10 on-field assistants from Oregon State but said roles haven’t been finalized.

“This opportunity, the more and more I looked into it, I could not be more fired up,” Smith said. “I think the fit of this place for me, my family, diving into this community, competing at the national level in regards to I think this has a national brand here at Michigan State so we couldn’t be more excited.”